Agenda About CFIB & our members Top priorities Fiscal Responsibility Taxation Red Tape Issues to watch Workers’ Compensation Commission on future of agriculture

Empowering Agri-Business Meeting with Hon. Neil LeClair June 19, 2008

About CFIB Result of a tax protest 36 years ago 106,000 members nationally; 1,100 in PEI 6,500 agri-business members Policy stance decided by members; one- member, one-vote 100% member funded

The Power of Entrepreneurs: About more than business Economic Contributions : SMEs employ 2/3 of working Islanders SMEs create 60% of new jobs in PEI SMEs responsible for 45% of PEI’s GDP Source: Statistics Canada SMEs contribute time and money to amateur sports, arts and culture, youth activities Many roles: volunteers, trainers, parents, activities, leaders Sources: CFIB Building Better Communities Survey, 2005 Social Contributions :

Business Barometer, March 08

Farmers and Small Business Owners the Most Respected: Independent Poll (Scale of 0 to 10, where 10 is greatest level of respect) Source: CFIB’s Small Business, Big Value report, October 2007

CFIB agriculture research projects NEW! Coming soon… Growing Forward – Agri-Business views of AgriInvest and AgriStability Cultivating a Fertile Foundation: Agri-business agenda for the Next Generation of Agriculture and Agri-Food Policy CFIA Report Card: A small business assessment of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency The Case Against CAIS: CFIB agri-business members’ views of the CAIS Program Agri-Business – A Partner Committed to Farm Safety CWB: An agri-business perspective on the future of the Canadian Wheat Board

CFIB research projects Immigration and Small Business: Ideas to better respond to Canada’s skills and labour shortage Help Wanted: Long term vacancies grow for Canada’s entrepreneurs Succession Planning: Investing in Your Future, Building a Succession Plan Red Tape: Rated “R” - Prosperity Restricted by Red Tape Environment: Achieving Eco-Prosperity – SMEs’ perspectives on the environment Banking Matters: Survey results of small business owners on banking issues Coming soon… Reports on Tax Competitiveness

Empowering Entrepreneurs: Top Priorities Balanced budget Spending restraint Balanced budget legislation Tax reductions Personal income taxes (BPE, Indexation) Small Business corporate rate Red tape Measurement Commitment to reduce

Empowering Agri-business: Concerns of agriculture members Source: CFIB Our Farm Members’ Opinions Survey No.14, PEI, December 2007

Empowering Agri-Business: Tax Reduction Priorities Source: CFIB Our Farm Members’ Opinions Survey No.14, PEI, December 2007

Empowering Agri-business: Red Tape Cost of complying with regulations in PEI totals $102.3 million each year Compliance costs are highest for the smallest businesses Regulations cost a typical Island firm (fewer than 4 employees) $5,360 annually

Empowering Agri-business: Red Tape 68% are calling on government to publicly report regulatory burden on businesses set targets for red tape reductions 67% support legislation that would restrict the introduction of new rules & regulations

Empowering Agri-business: Government Paperwork- TIME Source: CFIB, PEI Provincial Survey, 2006

Empowering Agri-business: Government fees, permits, licenses Source: CFIB, PEI Provincial Survey, 2006

Empowering Agri-business: Provincial Government Accountability Source: CFIB, PEI Provincial Survey, 2006

Empowering Agri-business: Reducing Red Tape Government commitment in Budget 2008 Keys to successful reform: Measurement Public Reporting Targets for reductions Improve communication & customer service

Empowering Agri-business: Workers’ Compensation Concern over recommendations from WCB review Mandatory inclusion of farming operations Removal of three-day waiting period

Empowering Agri-business: Environmental Laws/Regulation Concerns Environmental Laws and Regulations Cited as High Priority Issues Source: CFIB, Our Farm Members’ Opinions Survey No. 13 – December 2006 Note: NL data not provided as sample size too small

Empowering Agri-business: Environmental Regulations Firms subject to environmental regulations (by sector) Source: CFIB Point of View-Energy and Environment, March 2007

Empowering Agri-business: Environmental Stewardship Energy conservation measures (by sector) Source: CFIB Point of View-Energy and Environment, March 2007

Empowering Agri-business: Fair compensation Should government compensate farmers for the role they play in protecting water, soil quality, and wildlife habitat? Benefits society not just agriculture Source: CFIB Our Farm Members’ Opinions Survey No.13, PEI, December 2006

Empowering Agri-business: Priorities for Growing Forward Reduce the regulatory burden Reduce the total tax burden Implement effective safety net programs Introduce succession- friendly policies CFIB meets with Minister Ritz

Empowering Agri-business: Future of Agriculture Priorities for commission? Opportunities for CFIB involvement?